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Foundation Year: Electricity and Electronics

Circuit Theory 2

Note: The questions on this sheet are identical to the online questions, and are
presented in the same order. However, some of the figures, words and numbering may
be different since they have been adapted for online question use.

1. State whether or not the following assertion is TRUE or FALSE:

In an open circuit, (i.e. a battery where no load is connected), the
terminal voltage V is equivalent to the emf E.

2. State whether or not the following assertion is TRUE or FALSE:

The condition which allows maximum power to be delivered to a load from a
battery, is when the resistance of the load is equivalent to the internal
resistance of the battery.

3. A battery of emf 16V and internal resistance 0.5 Ω supplies a load taking a
current of 2A. Find the terminal voltage of the battery and the resistance of the
load.

4. The voltage at the terminals of a battery is 62V when no load is connected,

and 57 V when a load taking a current of 100 A is connected.
a) Find the internal resistance of the battery.
b) What would the terminal voltage be when a load taking a current of 20 A is
connected across the battery.

5. A battery of emf 24 V and internal resistance 0.5 Ω is connected across a load

of resistance 11.5 Ω. Determine:
a) the terminal voltage of the battery
b) the energy wasted in the internal resistance of the battery in 15 minutes.
 2

Circuit Theory 2 (continued)

6. The circuit in Figure 1 below consists of four resistors R1, R2, R3 and R4,
connected to a dc supply of emf 20V.

Ignoring any internal resistance of the supply, calculate:

(a) The total resistance of the circuit

(b) The supply current, I
(c) The potential difference across R3
(d) The energy consumed in resistor R3 over
60 seconds duration

R2 = 2Ω

R1 = 2Ω R3 = 5Ω R4 = 10Ω

I E = 20 V

Figure 1

7. A 12 V immersion heater heats 250ml of water from room temperature (200C)

to boiling point (1000C) in 10 minutes.

Calculate the resistance of the heater assuming all the heat generated is
absorbed by the water.

Note:
The heat energy Q required to heat a mass m of material by ΔT degrees is given by Q = smΔT
where s is the specific heat of the material. The specific heat of water is 4180 J kg-1 K-1. A
litre of water weighs 1 kg.